The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) will double its dialysis machines from the current seven to 14 through strategic partnerships and the facility’s internally generated funds.

The hospital has eliminated the ordeal of kidney patients who had to contend with two dialysis machines.

Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Prof Otchere Addai-Mensah, said the additional installations come at a time when dialysis sessions have increased from 80 to 300 every month.

“The Hospital has just received two new dialysis machines to add to the number seven from the Ghana Airport Company Limited while six new ones that have been bought by IGF at the cost of 2.8 million cedis are expected to be installed by the end of November,” he explained.

He further said, “With this improvement, the Hospital has enhanced clinical services to renal patients who are now able to access dialysis services thanks to the introduction of the highly commendable free dialysis care by the government through the National Health Insurance Authority.”

Last year, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital turned some patients away to private facilities due to insufficient dialysis equipment.

Though the facility received referrals from parts of the country, it had two machines for patients in need of dialysis.

The piloting of a free dialysis program under the National Health Insurance Scheme has contributed to the increased dialysis sessions at the hospital.

Though the number of dialysis machines has increased significantly, the hospital believes there is a need for more equipment to meet the increasing demand.

CEO of National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Dacosta Aboagye explained that efforts to retool some facilities with dialysis machines.

“We have applied through the Public Procurement Authority and soon we will hear from them. We have submitted to them to procure more dialysis machines to retool the facilities in such a way that they will be able to deliver on the mandate we have given them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NHIA has assured of preparedness to fund the full implementation of the free dialysis programme.

KATH held a Management-Senior Specialists/Consultants Consultative Forum in an effort to improve services to care seekers.